ES2337511T3 - MILK PUMP. - Google Patents

Abstract

The pump has a breast hood (3) for receiving tightly a woman's breast. A milk collecting unit receives milk pumped from the woman's breast. The collecting unit includes a downwards directed opening provided in a support unit for providing a suction communication to a breast hood. A manual pumping unit (1) of the collecting unit includes a wall unit for forming and surrounding a displacement space (9). An actuation unit of the pumping unit mechanically displaces a suction unit in an axial direction. A latching unit releasably connects the wall unit to a support (6) of the collecting unit.

Description

Milk pump

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The invention relates to a milk pump according to the preamble of claim 1.

A milk pump of this type is known, by example, from US-A6749582. In this case, the support has an almost tubular shape, being able to fit from up the cylinder in its upper hole. Alternatively it is A flexible pipe connection is provided for a foot pump. If he cylinder only fits, the union of the two elements is naturally very insecure. The document US-A-6652484 shows one way similar to a milk pump, in which the cylinder of a pump manual can be unscrewed in the form of a syringe injection. Here a connection is also provided alternately Flexible tube

In both cases it is a bit difficult to handle of the bomb. In one case it is due to the simple union by lace and, by therefore, to the need to move up the membrane of suction, while the angled operating lever is moves laterally (which causes friction losses and, for consequently, the tiredness of the hand). In the other case it is due to that the operation of an "injection syringe" in two directions requires two hands for the pump and to which it is necessary also hold the milk tank. Flexible pipe joints, on the contrary, they should be avoided as much as possible due to the possibility of getting tangled up, to the difficulty of cleaning as well as the plastics of these flexible tubes tend to be fragile and brittle.

It is only necessary to make a small analysis to determine why this separable union between the cylinder and support. One reason is the possibility of cleaning by separate the elements of the pump, that is, meet the high hygiene requirements However, the other reason in Arab cases is that it should be possible alternately to use (at least) two types of pump driven by muscle strength. Already mentioned Above that a flexible pipe joint is not favorable for this. In addition, a threaded joint also has its drawbacks. In first, during manufacturing, for example, by Injection molding procedure, it is not easy to demoulding, especially since the thread has to be relatively long due to the necessary shutter. This causes higher costs, but also in practical use the long thread, which is needed, It is uncomfortable and can easily cause "throttling" of the thread, if the two threaded elements they join together incorrectly, and therefore everything becomes useless. Also, a threaded joint does not allow the use of a curved cylinder and located approximately horizontally, as known from document WO01 / 34226, and the cylinder is integrated in the lid-shaped support and therefore does not allow a separate cleaning or a replacement of the pump system. In addition, it limits the selection of the material, because it has to select so that it meets both resistance requirements as it prevents too large friction between the plunger and the cylinder.

However, a combination of a cylinder, which it can be fixed separably, with a support (with a alternative configuration) advantageously also allows the marketing of different pump models than in all cases have the same support element, possible to manufacture economically in greater quantities. Here it is disadvantageous also a threaded joint, because it requires more work for the Assembly of the elements. On the other hand, they have not been proposed So far, for good reasons, other unions than the mentioned, because the pumping movement exerts, on the one hand, a certain longitudinal force on the cylinder in the direction of movement and, therefore, the union should be as fixed as possible. On the other hand, the union cannot be made in a way that the user can barely disassemble the elements for cleaning.

The invention therefore has the objective of set up a milk pump of the type mentioned at the beginning of so that it is easy to handle during pumping and cleaning. This is achieved according to the invention by means of characteristics of claim 1.

By using a separable union, which can be locked with a blocking element, you can get the following advantages:

one.

the the minus one cylinder wall is fixedly connected to the support during pump operation, but can be separated with a only hand movement for cleaning,

2.

during manufacturing, this wall or the entire cylinder can be easily fitted into the support, in the that crashes,

3.

he cylinder or its circumferential wall can be made of a material which facilitates sliding, therefore having the support only a bearing function,

Four.

he cylinder can easily be replaced also for the purpose of repair,

5.

a detachable joint, which can be locked with a blocking element, it can be easily molded, for example, by the method injection molding, which also positively influences the manufacturing costs, and

6.

a detachable joint, which can be locked with a blocking element, it does not have narrow thread steaks that are difficult to clean.

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To facilitate pumping it is advantageous that the cylinder is curved in correspondence with the arc of motion of the lever, rotatably mounted, of the device drive, because thus the movement is broadly transmitted without friction.

In this case, the cylinder can be placed in the support only in a single direction and, for this reason, it is especially preferred that a protective element is provided against torsion to protect the coincidence between the curvature of the cylinder and arc of movement of the operating lever. A advantageous embodiment is described below by of the drawing.

If the quick joint is arranged on the side directed against the hole leading to the collecting tank, the fixing is protected without play precisely in the area, in which the passage of the suction current must be performed without leakage.

The separation between the support and the cylinder (in comparison with the solution according to WO01 / 34226) allows better adapt to different requirements, so prefers the cylinder to be formed from a material different from the support, especially that the cylinder material have a lower coefficient of friction than the support material and / or that the support material has a resistance or hardness greater than the cylinder material. The cylinder can be made, for example, of polyethylene (PE) or polyamide (PA) and / or the support can be made of polycarbonate (PC) or polypropylene (PP)

Other details of the invention derive from the following description of embodiments shown schematically in the drawing. They show:

Fig. 1 a vertical section through a first exemplary embodiment of a milk pump, according to the invention, approximately according to line I-I of the figure 5,

Fig. 2 an exploded representation in perspective of the milk pump according to figure 1, with respect to the that

Fig. 3 and 4 units, possible to join modular form respectively, show a fixed relative position of the chest attachment piece and the operating lever and a adjustable relative position,

Fig. 5 a rear view in correspondence with arrow V of figure 2,

Fig. 6 an exploded representation, similar to Figure 2, of another embodiment or of the pump according to Figure 1, but with another pumping unit and

Fig. 7 a section, similar to figure 1, through of the embodiment according to figure 1, but displaced along line VII-VII of figure 5.

The milk pump, shown in Figure 1, It features a top bracket 6 with a manual pumping unit 1, which is mounted on a connecting element 2. To that end, the connecting element 2 has a sleeve 7, projecting towards above, with a connection hole 7 ', in which sleeve 7 is mounted a 7 '' sleeve of the bracket. The two sleeves 7, 7 '' are slightly tapered, so that a tight and fixed joint is created.  The support 6 could be configured in the most diverse way and be made, for example, of individual beams, but it is preferred that is configured as a cover so that it accommodates protected inside the manual pumping unit 1.

The connecting element 2 comprises, on the one hand, a piece 3 of union to the chest or cup and, on the other hand, a threaded element 4, with which the pump can be screwed to a 5 milk collection tank. Between the milk collecting tank 5 and the connecting element 2 is located in a known way a check valve 8. This check valve 8 is preferably set according to the document description US-A-6270474, whose content is You should consider here as published by reference.

On the upper side of the support 6 may be placed a known regulation button 23 that regulates the infiltrated air supply and therefore also the effort when the pump is operated. An especially preferred embodiment is describe, for example, in documents US-A-6042560 and 6290671, whose content should also be considered as published by reference.

Not to hinder the cleaning of unit 1 of manual pumping, described below, due to the input of breast milk, a 2 6 overflow valve is arranged in front of hole 7 '. This overflow valve is configured preferably according to the description of European patent No. 0121825, whose content should also be considered here as Posted by reference.

Inside the lid-shaped support 6 is provided a hollow chamber 27 housing the pumping unit 1 with a cylinder 9, the cylinder 9 being surrounded by a wall 9 'circumferential, as well as being closed by a wall front 9 '' with respect to hole 7 '. As the Figure 2, this cylinder 9 is fitted in a protected manner in a support 6, configured as a lid, with a cross section essentially square rounded corners (see also the Figure 5) and detachably linked with it. As in the cylinder 9 a piston '' 10a must be moved reciprocatingly as a suction device by means of an actuator, rotating around a turning point 14, or a lever 15 (two-arm), the arc 15 'of movement must or must coincide as much as possible with the 9 'circumferential wall curvature or with curved development  of cylinder 9, because otherwise friction originates causes fatigue of the hand that pumps. To protect this coincidence, a plate 12, which coincides with the cross section square bracket 6, can be conveniently inserted, according to Figure 2, in the hollow chamber 27, configured in the same way, of the 6-shaped lid support or can be mounted on it (see figure 7). As seen in figure 1, you can do without also of this insert or of this plate 12 in case of a very exact manufacturing, although this is preferred as an element cylinder torsion guard 9.

As observed by means of the 12 'variant of the frame or plate in figure 5, which serves as an element of closure, it has a hole 13, through which it can move a guide element 16 of the lever 15 that can be joined by lace holes 17 with a plunger 10a surrounded by a ring 11 of obturation. This lever 15 is subjected, for example, to force of recoil of a recoil spring 18 which preferably has the configuration of a simple U-shaped leaf spring and gear with one end on lever 15 (see figure 1). The other end 18 'of the spring 18 is fixed on the support 6 and, if necessary, also in the connecting element 2. This can be done. by means of a connecting element 19 that can be formed simply, for example, by a screw. In this case, the element Union 19 can fulfill a double function by also fixing the support 6 in the connecting element 2.

Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment, in which the base 6 'of the protruding support down it has, for example, a slit-shaped hole 20, to through which an arched element 19 of alternatively fixing in embodiment 19a as an organ of blocking or in embodiment 19b (see figures 3, 4) as an organ limiter that delimits a relative rotation of lever 15 with respect to reservoir 5 and support 6 and, therefore, partially allows it. This arcuate fastener 19a or 19b has respectively a slit 21, through which it can be inserted, after the insertion in the groove 20, the end 18 'of the spring 18 by behind this slit 20 and thus block the connecting element 19. The front arch 22 of the respective fixing element 19 is housed in a grooved guide 23 (figure 2) of the connecting element 2, enclosing the protrusions 24 the extreme limits of the slit in the case of the fixing element 19a and thus creating a fixed joint which does not allow a relative rotation of the connecting element 2 and the support.

However, the fixing element or organ limiter 19b can alternatively be inserted in the slit 20 and be fixed by the end 18 '. This fixing element 19b is wider and has 25 interlocking elements that allow a limited rotation of the support 6 with respect to the connecting element 2 and they lock the respective relative position. This enables a adaptation of the relative position during pumping to the chest left or right The possibility of replacing elements 19a o 19b of union allows to adapt the operation of the pump to the user wishes or models can also be easily manufactured other than the manual pump shown, without changing the necessary molding tools. It is understood that this substitution it is also possible regardless of whether cylinder 9 or at least a wall of this can be replaced or not, so in this case It is a separate invention.

It is understood that the two elements 19a, 19b are they can configure in the most diverse way and provide for support 6 or at its base 6 'to interact in the connecting element 2 with the limiting surfaces or a counter-locking element (see leaf spring 28 with counter-locking projection in the Figure 1) or provide in the connecting element 2 to interact with limiting surfaces or a counter-locking element in the 6 'base of the support. The interlocking elements may be also configured, instead of on the upper side, for example, on the front side of element 19b that opposes the element of union (or support). Finally, it can also be dispensed with, given the case, of interlocking elements 25 and provide only highlights very far apart (in correspondence with highlights 24), what which is preferred to a lesser extent.

In relation to the possibility of replacement, already mentioned, of cylinder 9 or of at least one wall 9 'and / or 9' 'of This should be explained as follows.

As can be seen in figures 2 and 1 (or better at 7), from the front wall 9 '' of the cylinder 9 protrudes, on the one hand, a coupling sleeve 29. According to figure 1, this sleeve 29 can be fitted in a counter sleeve 30 in the holder 6. Since both sleeves have a somewhat conical shape again, it gets a tight fitting by lace that prevents leaks.

From the front wall 9 '' (figure 2) protrude also two elements of a locking device that in the exemplary embodiment shown are formed by two hooks 31. When the cylinder 9 is inserted into the hollow chamber 27 of the support 6, the sleeve 29 enters, on the one hand, through a circular hole 32 of a housing plate 33 (figures 5, 7) of the support 6 and, on the other hand, the hooks 31 respectively pass through a recess 34 of plate 33. A pin 35, for example, a pin conical pressing the front wall 9 '' against the plate 33, it you can now insert between the hooks 31, as you can see especially in figure 7. It is understood, however, that this is just one of the many possible examples of blocking, knowing the technician numerous modifications for the construction of elements lock So, for example, the front wall 9 '' could have lateral extensions, in which it engages, for example, a eccentric locking element to press this wall 9 '' against plate 33. However, in both cases, a pin meets two terms:

one.

be you can insert and disassemble easily and quickly Y

2.

withstands great forces in the direction of movement of the suction organ or in the specific case, at Arc length 15 'of movement.

As noted above, the location of the blockage It can be selected differently. If selected in the zone of the circumferential wall 9 ', space is generally lost for the cylinder If the location of the block is selected at the end open from bracket 6, on the right (in the drawing), the connection airtight with respect to the hole 7 'be protected only with difficulty. For this reason it is preferred that the junction 31, 35, possible to block, be arranged on the side directed against the hole 7 'leading to the reservoir 5, as can be seen in the He drew. It is further understood that it would also be possible to configure the wall 33 as front wall of cylinder 9 and block only its wall 9 'circumferential with this front wall formed in this way. In this case may be difficult to seal or it would be necessary an approximately circular ring seal on the side front of this circumferential wall 9 ', which can make it difficult Cleaning in certain circumstances.

From document EP1231955 the configuration of the lid-shaped support, but for other purposes, because here it constitutes simultaneously the circumferential limit of the cylinder. This, in addition to hindering the cleaning of the cylinder, causes that during the manufacture it is necessary to always do concessions, because the wall of the support is made of a material solid support that results, however, in greater friction of the plunger and to a difficult drive, or a material is used that It favors sliding, but has a less stable form. By separating, according to the invention, the two objectives you can get an optimal result for both requirements, that is, expressed briefly, when the wall is formed circumferential of the cylinder from a material other than of the support. In this case we proceed conveniently so that the cylinder material has a coefficient of friction less than the support material and / or the support material has a strength or hardness greater than the cylinder material. The cylinder it is advantageously manufactured in polyethylene (PE) or polyamide (PA) and / or the support is made of polycarbonate (PC) or polypropylene (PP).

In relation to Figure 5, already mentioned, you can also see in this one the fixation of the plate 12 in the outer end of its hollow chamber 27. For this purpose, it is fixed by means of a circumferential clamp 12 'preferably elastic (figures 5, 7) on the support cover, that is, the clamp slides on the edge of the support 6 'in the form of cover and in the embodiment according to figure 1 hold the plate 12 and in the embodiment according to figure 7, an edge 38 of a membrane 39 in vessel shape that will be analyzed later. In any case it can guarantee torsion protection by means of the hollow chamber 27 different from a circular shape (see also the Figure 5), because the curved cylinder 9 can be used only if its curvature coincides with the 15 'arcuate movement (figure 1).

The clamp 12 'has on its upper side a slotted hole 36, through which a flap or a gear highlight 37 that can also be observed in the realization of support according to figure 7. If this clamp 12 is molded then of a slightly elastic material, it can slide no problems on the flap 37. The bottom edges of the clamp 12 'can be held by protrusions 38' of interlocking

By means of figure 6 it should be shown that the invention allows the manufacture of different models with a cost small. For the same elements the same numbers are used here of reference than in the previous figures.

The elements on the left and right side of Figure 6 match the elements shown in Figure 2 in these sides. The difference is that instead of the plunger 10a (figure 2) an approximately shaped membrane 10b is provided glass with a 10 'circumferential wall and a front wall front 10 '' indicated with dashed lines, preferably in the manner described in European Patent Application EP071013.46.0. In this front wall a connection element 39 is fixed which penetrates the circular hole 13 (see figure 5) and that is connected, in turn, with the guide element 16 of the lever 15 a through the lace holes 17 by means of lace pins. For the vessel membrane 10b, a cylindrical chamber curved in correspondence with cylinder 9. Without However, reference has already been made above to the special advantage of detachably place the cylinder 9, which lies, among others, in the possibility of adapting the plastic to the different relationships of friction However, when using a membrane 10b it is not it is necessary to take into account the coefficients of friction of the material and it is enough if instead of the entire cylinder 9 according to figure 2 only the front wall 9 '' is used to cover the recesses 34 or for joining sleeves 29, 30 (see figures 1, 5, 6). All the hollow chamber 27 of the holder 6 is available, on the contrary, to accommodate the vessel membrane 10b, that is, it can have a cross section larger than the plunger 10a and therefore Supply greater pumping power. For fixing the membrane 10b in the support 6 the clamp 12 'is provided preferably elastic that was described by means of figure 5 and which imprisons the edge 38 of the membrane 10b at the edge of the support 6 and its hollow chamber 27.

List of reference numbers

one

Manual pumping unit

2

Connecting element

3

Chest binding piece

4

Threaded element

5

Deposit

6

6 'base stand

7

Sleeve

7 '

7 hole

7 ''

6 cuff

8

Retention valve

9

Cylinder

9 '

9 circumferential wall

9 ''

9 front wall

10

Aspiration organ (10a or 10b)

eleven

10 sealing ring

12

Rack, plate

12 '

Clamp

13

12 hole

14

15 pivot point

fifteen

Drive device or lever

fifteen'

15 movement arc

16

Guide element in 15

17

16 hole lace

18

Recoil spring

19

Junction Element (19a, 19b)

twenty

6 'hole

twenty-one

19 slot

22

19 arc

2. 3

Slotted Guide 2

24

Highlights of 19th

25

19b interlocking elements

26

Overflow valve

27

Hollow chamber in 6

28

Leaf spring with projection for 19b

29

9 '' sleeve

30

Counter cuff in 6

31

Locking hook

32

Circular hole in 33

33

6 plate

3. 4

Slits in 33 to 31

35

Barrette

36

Slotted hole

37

Flaps

38

Membrane edge

39

Connection element

38 '

Interlocking projections

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Documents cited in the description This list of documents cited by the applicant was included exclusively to inform the reader and is not part European patent member. This one was made with the maximum careful, but the European Patent Office does not assume, however, no liability for possible errors or omissions Patents cited in the description

US6749582 A [0002]

US6290671 A [0015]

US6652484 A [0002]

EP0121825 A [0016]

WO0134226 A [0004] [0011]

EP1231955 A [0026]

US6270474 A [0014]

EP071013460 A [0030]

US6042560 A [0015]

Claims (9)

1. Milk pump with a manual pumping unit (1) above a hole (7 '), which leads to a tank (5), in a support (6), this unit (1) presenting a cylinder (9) ) which is essentially enclosed by a circumferential wall (9 ') and a closing front wall (9'') and can be detachably connected to a piece (3) attached to the chest by the support, as well as an organ ( 10a, 10b) of suction that can be reciprocated by means of a manual actuation device (15), such as a lever ('15), preferably a two-arm lever (15) rotatably mounted in a central area (in 19), characterized in that at least one wall (9 ';9''), preferably at least the closing wall (9''), of the cylinder (9) is easily interchangeably fixed in the support (6) by means of a separable joint that can be locked with a locking arrangement (31, 35). 2. Milk pump according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the following characteristics is provided:

to)

a recoil device (18) for the device (15) of drive to go back to an initial position default

b)

he support (6) covers the cylinder (9) that extends approximately horizontally and

C)

in front of the hole (7 '), which leads towards the tank (5), a valve (26) of overflow.

3. Milk pump according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cylinder (9), which can be replaced with its circumferential wall (9 '), is curved in correspondence with the arc (15') of movement of the lever ( 15), rotatably mounted, of the drive device and because a torsional protective element (6, 12, 27) is preferably provided to protect the coincidence between the curvature of the cylinder (9) and the arc (15 ') of movement of the actuation lever (15) and, if necessary, the support (6) has a hollow shape (27) especially angular, for example, square, which differs from a circular shape and which houses the cylinder (9) in in any case with the insert (12) that fits the corners. 4. Milk pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the joint (31, 35), which can be blocked, is arranged on the side directed against the hole (7 ') leading to the tank (5). 5. Milk pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the circumferential wall (9 ') of the cylinder (9) is formed from a material different from that of the support (6), because especially the material of the cylinder ( 9) has a coefficient of friction lower than the support material (6) and / or the support material (6) has a strength or a hardness greater than the material of the cylinder (9) and because preferably the cylinder (9) is made of polyethylene (PE) or polyamide (PA) and / or the support (6) is made of polycarbonate (PC) or polypropylene (PP). 6. Milk pump according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the suction member has a plunger (10a) that can be moved along the cylinder (9). 7. Milk pump according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the suction member has a vessel-shaped membrane (10b) that can be moved in the cylinder (9). 8. Milk pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the support (6) and at least one wall (9 '') of the cylinder (9) a gasket is provided and because preferably this gasket is configured as a tight conical joint by fitting between a conical tubular joint (29) in one part and a channel (30) which houses it, preferably also conical, in the other part. 9. Milk pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a joint element (2) is provided with a joint with the hole (7 ') leading to the tank (5) and because this joint element (2) and / or the support (6), possible to be fixed therein, has a fixing element (19) that allows a separation, alternatively for a separable locking element (19a) that protects against a rotation around the axis of the hole (7 ') leading to the reservoir (5) or to a limiter (19b) that limits this rotation and, therefore, partially allows it.